Imagine if Caboose had died on Chorus and Church just breaks down screaming and cursing until eventually he stops being able to help Carolina because all he can think of is the kid who looked up to him and he let him down and eventually he ends up fragmenting himself so Caboose is an AI as well. And Caboose is still this confused idiot who doesn't always say the right thing but now he can always be close to his friends and to Church so he doesn't really mind.
Summary: If there was anyone he never expected to lose, it was Caboose.
Notes: I had a conversation with my friend Cabanna and came up with this. Alternatively, I'll hold you buddy. Aha ha ha someone kick me. Enjoy.
~
"Shoot anyone on sight."
Church knew it was a bad idea to try and fight. His inner Delta was scanning possible options of escape, but he knew that was futile as well. He had specifically told Carolina that they'd lose. Hearing those words come from Locus furthered his worries, but at this point Carolina wanted to blow that Felix guy's head off. Church hated how stubborn she was.
"Carolina, fall back."
"Shut up Church. I can do this."
"Then at least fall back towards the guys. They need your help," Church tried to reason. Carolina looked to her shoulder, shooting an enemy soldier with her pistol.
"I thought Caboose was mad at you."
"That doesn't mean I'm not going to make sure he's okay. Just go to them. The area is clear; we can go." Carolina sighed but quickly rushed over to where Caboose, Tucker and Wash were shooting at soldiers. Carolina quickly shot at one of the soldiers aiming for Wash and got behind the barricade to protect herself from bullets.
Church immediately flickered over to Caboose who was partially hiding behind a barrier and shooting every once in a while if Wash and Tucker started to shoot. It took Church less than ten seconds to scan him of any injuries, luckily finding zero when he was done.
"You alright, buddy?" Church asked. Caboose looked up at the little hologram and nodded his head. Church already knew the answer, but he liked to ask anyways.
"Good." Church flickered out of sight above the soldiers, hoping to get an overview of the area. Carolina seemed to be fine for the moment, and Tucker and Wash were doing equally well. The mercenaries seemed to have ceased fire for a moment, knowing they couldn't shoot past the barricade the guys were hiding behind.
Church would pat himself on the back for thinking of building the barricade right there. He was getting so much better at this AI stuff. If Church was honest with himself, he'd throw a party for being so smart. He decided that if they got out of this, he'd definitely celebrate for being fucking awesome.
Though, Church knew they weren't going to get out of this. There were already more soldiers coming, guns blazing and heavy artillery rolling in. Church flickered back down to Carolina to give her instructions, and then someone cried out and his calculations stopped.
"Caboose?" Church turned around to see Caboose being shot at by a mercenary who had gotten past their defenses. How he did that, Church couldn't figure out. Wash quickly shot him dead after noticing him, but Caboose had already taken damage.
"Caboose? Hey, Caboose, are you okay?" Church was already scanning his injuries, seeing if they were fatal or not. The moment the scan was finished Church wished he hadn't done it.
"C-Church. My c-chest hurts. A-and it is n-not because of you th-this time."
Church reached out for the blue soldier but quickly realized he didn't have a body. He floated down to eye level with Caboose, trying to find words to say.
"Don't talk, Caboose. Save your breath. We'll get-" Church turned to Wash for a moment. "Wash, where's Emily? Or Doc?"
How should I know?"Wash answered, shooting past the barricade at another mercenary, missing and letting out a frustrated groan.
"Fuck! Okay, Caboose, you're fine. Help is coming. You'll be okay."
"C-Church... It really h-hurts."
"I know, I know-
"Epsilon, I need you over here right now!" Carolina yelled back, ducking when she heard a grenade explosion.
"I'm kind of busy-
"We will get him help later, but right now I need you helping me!" Church glanced at Caboose who was whimpering in pain but one more yell of his name brought him back over to Carolina. He quickly helped her to shoot down a few soldiers, and then helped her throw a grenade that landed right between two more soldiers.
Once it seemed clear, Tucker, Wash, and Carolina sat behind the barricade to try and figure out a strategy to try and get back to the others before any more soldiers decided to drop in. Church, of course, went back over to Caboose.
"Epsilon!"
Church ignored Carolina's complaints, focusing on Caboose now. Church scanned him again, knowing his heart beat was dying out and there wasn't any way to change it.
"C-Ch-Church..."
"Don't worry buddy. We're going to get you out of here. You're going to be o-okay." Church heard a voice behind him asking if Caboose was going to be alright. Delta was next to him rattling off reasons why there was only a two percent chance of survival for Caboose. Church wished them away. He didn't need that right now.
"C-Church, I lo-love you..."
"Shit- Epsilon, I need you back over here now! Forget about Caboose! We can't save him anymore!"
If Church could feel numb, he believed that's what he'd feel now. He expected to lose someone, but it wasn't ever Caboose.
"Epsilon!" He ignored Carolina once again as he heard the last breath leave Caboose's body, and he wished he had a body of his own so he could hold him. He wanted to cradle Caboose; hold him before he breathed his last breath.
Church realized he didn't even get to say it back. He didn't even get to have a happy reunion with Caboose after leaving for so long. He fucked up. He fucked up and now Caboose was gone.
"Wash?! Oh- Epsilon, Wash just got shot. Get. Over here. Now!"
Summary: Church can't be forgiven every time he leaves.
Notes: Yaay sad churboose. Takes place after episode 10, season 12.
~
"Caboose?"
The moment he heard his name called he immediately covered his head and started snoring obnoxiously, trying to pretend he wasn't there. Maybe he would go away and would not bother him while he cried. Caboose really hoped for that.
"Caboose, I know you're awake." He ignored him. This was just like the nightmares. If he closed his eyes and pretended it was not there it would go away eventually. He was not there. Church was not there. He was not trying to talk to Caboose. He was not there. He did not come back.
"Caboose-
"Caboose is not here right now. He is sleeping. And there is no beep where you can leave a message." Church sighed and floated over to the bunk he was in, reaching out a hand to touch at him. He realized that it would only go through him, so he immediately retracted it and stared at him instead.
"Caboose, I want to talk to you." Caboose seized his fake snoring and peeked out from behind the pillow to look at the little transparent Church. His chest hurt when he looked at him, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes if he looked to long. Church was here. He was here, and he wanted to talk to Caboose and he should be happy. He should be so happy that his best friend was back, but he wasn't.
"...I do not want to talk to you."
"Come on, don't say that. I'm Church, remember? Your best friend? Of course you want to talk to me." Caboose sat up and threw the pillow at the AI in a surge of anger.
"No! I do not want to talk to you! You were very mean and you left without saying goodbye and I was really sad. Agent Washington told me you would come back but you never did and-" Caboose paused for a moment to think and then laid back down, turning away from Church.
"Tucker is a better best friend than you are and I do not even like Tucker that much."
Church looked back at the pillow that was thrown at him. If he had been in a body right now, that would've hurt considering Caboose's strength. Sometimes it really did pay to be an AI. Church looked back at Caboose and hovered down to sit in front of his face on the bed.
"Caboose, you knew I'd come back. Don't I always come back? I'm back now. Why aren't you happy?" Caboose stared at the hologram sadly. His chest hurt. It hurt more than it had ever hurt before and he wanted to cry.
Church was right here. He was here and Caboose could easily talk to him about everything that had happened and how much he missed Church and how stupid Tucker was and ask if Church had missed him too. He could talk to him until he fell asleep mumbling how Church was his best friend.
But he didn't want to. He wanted Church to go away and know how much he really upset Caboose when he left. He wanted Church to know how much Caboose had missed him.
"Caboose, you're crying." Caboose hadn't even noticed the tears rolling down his face while he stared at Church. He tried to wipe them away, because Church certainly couldn't do it like he had used to.
"Please go away Church."
"Caboose, come on-
"Please. I do not want to talk to you Church. I will just keep crying and I do not want to cry Church."
"Okay," Church said, and floated off the bed, heading towards the door slowly. He stops in his tracks when he remembers something and turns to Caboose. He was curled up, his back facing Church and Church felt utterly awful.
"Hey, buddy?" Caboose stayed silent, save for a little sniffle when he heard Church say buddy. Wash had started calling him that, and every time he heard it he wanted to cry. It just reminded him of Church, and Church hadn't been there to call him that.
"I came in here to say I'm sorry, Caboose. And that I missed you." Church was hoping for something when he said that. For anything that would let him know he was forgiven by the one person who always forgave him, but there was nothing. He let out a small chuckle. He had expected too much this time.
Church turned back towards the door and disappeared quickly, reappearing at Carolina's shoulder. She had been waiting outside the door so he could talk to Caboose, but she realized it was time to go now.
